One of NfCG's Associates is the Institute of Food Research (IFR), based in Norwich. Every so often they send the Editor a copy of their newsletter. The articles are technical. The most recent issue contained a learned discourse on yeasts, such as yeasts from wasps, bees and spoiled food, preservative" resistant spoilage yeasts (definitely bad news) and the IFR work in identifying unusual species.
Among the other articles was one about green tea. In China it has been understood for more than 4,000 years that green tea is good for you. More recent research has shown that drinking green tea can help to prevent a number of degenerative diseases.
Now, in a project jointly funded by the Royal Society and the Institute of Biophysics in Beijing, IFR has been investigating the chemical origins of these effects. The most likely chemicals involved are polyphenols and green tea is very rich in these.
Their work has shown that polyphenols are very effective scavengers of free radicals and thus probably act to prevent oxidative damage which is a known precursor of degenerative diseases. Green tea polyphenols have a role in the protection of the nervous system and brain tissue. The IFR researchers have been able to show that green tea polyphenols prevent oxidative attack on the vulnerable membranes of the brain tissue. The polyphenols may be effective because they reside at the most vulnerable point of attack for these membranes.
These details appeared in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and were reported in the IFR News, issue 1:01. The IFR contact is Peter Belton - peter.belton@bbsrc.ac.uk
The IFR has responded recently to consultations with the Food Standards Agency, MAFF, the Home Office and the European Commission on a number of issues. These responses are posted on their web site for information www.ifr.bbsrc.ac.uk/science/consultations
A friend of the Editor sent the following message after her husband, who suffers from high blood pressure, had suffered a bad reaction to a cold remedy ~ and found himself in hospital.
The US has banned a drug present in cold remedies and appetite suppressants. It's been known for years that this drug, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), raises blood pressure and that a dose taken by someone who has high blood pressure could, at worst, burst a blood vessel in the brain, causing a stroke.
In the USA, between 200 and 500 strokes a year in under 50s are said to result from taking PPA. In the UK, PPA containing cold remedies include Benlyn, Contac 400, Day Nurse and Night Nurse. But the worry is not so much with them, provided you take the recommended dose and do not have high blood pressure, as with some diet drugs (available only on prescription) as these contain much higher amounts of PPA.
If you have a headache, dizziness or blurred vision after taking any medication containing PPA, take no more and see you doctor.
The UK's Committee on Safety of Medicines is reviewing PPA's status.
SUNday, on June 24th, is an annual European-wide celebration of renewable energy that will demonstrate to the general public, businesses and governmental (in the widest sense) decision-makers that renewable energy is sustainable, realistic and affordable. The Solar Energy Society (the UK branch of the International Solar Energy Society) is coordinating events across the country. The following are just a few examples:
Hockerton Housing Project (Nottingham) will offer guided tours of its earth sheltered housing scheme which has been built without a central heating system. [www.hockerton.demon.co.uk]
Wind and Sun will hold an open day at Humber Marsh Nature Reserve (Leominster, Herefordshire) with displays including a grid-connected solar system, a stand alone solar system, wind turbines, solar fountains, solar models and a solar powered cooker. [wwwwindandsun.co.uk]
The National Energy Foundation's renewable energy department will be holding an open day at the National Energy Centre at Milton Keynes. There will be hands-on activities for children, tours of the centre and demonstrations of renewable energy systems.
For the latest information about events around the country contact David Garlovsky - phone/fax 0114 2499 459 - Email solarsunday@hotmail.com -Website www.sundayeurope.com
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